Vigil held for East Fallowfield domestic slaying victim

Staff photos by Vinny Tennis
Gloria Woods talks during a vigil for her daughter, Jamica Woods at Ash Park in Coatesville on Monday. The vigil coordinated by the Strong Faith Family Church provided information about domestic violence.

COATESVILLE — About 50 friends, family members and fellow worshipers of an East Fallowfield woman who was gunned down inside her home in May gathered Monday evening at Ash Park for a vigil against domestic violence.

Jamica Woods, 37, died on May 21 after she was shot twice inside her Rokeby Road home. Her longtime boyfriend and father of her adult daughter, 44-year-old Gregory Twyman, is jailed on a first-degree murder charge. Court filings show the Woods was the victim of continuous abuse at the hands of her spouse.

The group gathered under a pavilion to share fond memories of Woods and discuss the harsh realities of domestic violence. Many of Woods’ family members, including her mother, daughter and several cousins, shared their favorite memories of Woods and spoke about their thoughts following her tragic death.

Jamica’s mother, Gloria Woods, said her daughter was one of the biggest parts of her life, and following her death a large part of her went missing.

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“Jamica was my friend, my daughter, my confidant,” Gloria Woods said. “I told her secrets and she told me secrets, I wish she told me more of her secrets because maybe then we wouldn’t have to be here today.”

Gloria Woods spoke directly to the many young people in attendance, urging them not to tolerate abuse in their lives and to reach out immediately for help if they ever find themselves in a situation like the one that faced Jamica Woods.

“It’s going to escalate someday, and when it does your family is going to be where my family is now,” she said. “You’ll have to endure this pain I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

According to investigators, Jamica Woods died after she was shot twice with a single shot shotgun. The day before her death, Gregory Twyman changed his Facebook profile to show photographs of a shotgun shell and a shotgun. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty against Twyman as they prosecute his case.

Jamica Woods’ mother, daughter, and other family members were presented with a purple butterfly bush and empowerment necklaces on behalf of the Domestic Violence Center.

Samantha Harper, the East Fallowfield police officer who was among the first responders on the day of Woods’ death, also spoke to the group about the importance of reaching out for help. She also told the family that the killings has become more than a case for the East Fallowfield Police Department, and said that it has already changed the way the department’s officers respond to and handle domestic violence situations.

“I’m sorry your family has gone through this, I’m sorry you lost your mother, and I wish there was something more we could have done to prevent this,” Harper said.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and are need of help, confidential assistance is available 24/7 at the Domestic Violence of Chester County hotline at 1-888-711-6270.